The Autumn Heart (1999) User Reviews

SunDunce?

[Dan Ley · 5/10 · 12 February 2005]

The wife and I were predicting the scenes before they happened in this empty-calorie cliché-fest. Like the stripper, the unopened letters, the reality of the abandoning-husband, etc. I did think the way the ending was handled was good. I think those who enjoyed this film either worked on it and wanted to start a good word-of-mouth or they're expectations have been lowered by the crop of chick flicks that are cranked out these days. The Autumn Heart was judged in a good light based, I think, on its independent status. But this isn't fair to the studio-produced crap that people gleefully rip. Fortunately, I've already forgotten most everything that happened in The Autumn Heart anyway.

Wicked Terrible Movie

[guyb-2 · 1/10 · 27 January 2001]

How bad was it? How much can you despise the characters? How much can you hate the actors playing the characters? When you watch a modern movie about dysfunctional families, you know, going in, that you will have to spend some time with characters that are not so nice or pleasant. OK, I'm fine with that. But this is the first experience that I've had where I found, not only, the characters highly unpleasant, but also the actors and their portrayal of those hateful charters, highly unpleasant as well. You would do well to just pass this one by. It leaves you with dog breath at the end and you just have to go and gargle with Clorox to get it out!

A wonderful little laugh-cry "sleeper".

[=G= · 8/10 · 17 January 2001]

Every now and then a group of talented writers, actors, directors, etc. coalesce without fanfare, big budget, or broadside promotion and quietly give birth to a very special film. So it is with "Autumn Hearts", a sentimental comedy/drama about a Harvard University student and groom-to-be who's unexpectedly reunited with a trio of long lost sisters from the other side of the tracks. The films takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of laughs and tears as the motley mix of characters earnestly seek needed reconciliations and purge long held regrets. All acting is good but Sheedy's performance in consummate.

The American dream?

[Ruthbasilisk-1 · 1/10 · 5 March 2008]

I was really looking forward to seeing that movie from 1999 (a period, in which I liked Ally Sheedy' s appearance), as somebody said it was warmhearted or so. In fact I was completely bored throughout the whole film. Is it because I live in old Europe - the family-ideals proposed in that film were so creamy overdrawn and didn't match mine at all...? The characters of the siblings were so different, you wouldn't believe they are relatives. Like another commenter said, they were not developing at all. Sheedy had to act a hysteric, bitter, always yelling beast, who had never come over losing her father by divorce of her parents. She had to present us a flat black-and -white-psychology with no tones of grey in between.

Funny and Real

[lvillalt99 · 8/10 · 16 January 2002]

My wife and I enjoyed this film a lot. The actors come across like real people, and the script is funny at times, serious at times.

The movies adult subject matter is constrained to adult language, and some adult situations.

Spoiler - Effects on adult children of divorce

[JWViews · 1/10 · 22 August 2006]

The reappearance of a long absent, non-contributing father (hint of alcohol) with more money and charisma than the mother who struggled, and the pain and confusion of sensitive children who don't know how to react is a fairly common real-life occurrence, worthy of serious treatment. This film avoids that. The sisters are genetically anomalous caricatures; no background for mother's decision to divorce is provided, but Dad's little box of treasures is; and having mother die makes the difficult work of resolving blame, guilt, loyalty and fair outcome unnecessary. Shallow feel good ending. Son gets to love dead Mom he doesn't know. Girls get to love Dad who didn't even want to be there. Dad wins. Everyone else loses.

Chilling Look At Children of Divorce...

[cj-123 · 10/10 · 10 February 2007]

This movie contains some of the best acting by Ally Sheedy and Tyne Daly. The story is strong, characters are hilarious, and there's enough of a twist to wreck the most stoic person.

The movie revolves around a family... or fractions of a family brought together after some time. Unaware sisters seek out a long lost brother and father. Their journey takes them to the other side of the tracks, into unknown territory, and establishes that family is tighter than all known boundaries - even stronger than the truth.

So many movies delve into the surface of " children of a divorce." This movie rips into the core of the damage two adults can have on their children. It should be required viewing for any parents splitting up.

terrific heartwarming film

[nyrambler · 10/10 · 29 January 2003]

It is precisely because of movies like this one that I ever more frequently seek out independent films. A remarkable accomplishment from this talented screenwriter. Many have been unduly harsh and critical of this film because it walks along a "well-trodden" hollywood path - the heartaches of families who deal with divorce. But to see only this is to miss the forest for the trees. "The Autumn Heart" tells the story of one family's outcome from divorce. But during the storytelling we are enriched with wonderful characters who quickly stir a multitude of different feelings within ourselves. We discover many layers to each of these characters (or at least we do if we realize we are in the forest). This should undoubtedly be credited to the terrific perfomances in this film. If you have not seen "The Autumn Heart" yet, go see it. If you have seen it, see it again (as I have) for it comes even more alive the second time. An amazing achievement from an independent film.

GREAT MOVIE!

[njrob · 10/10 · 29 January 2003]

I loved this movie! It was fun, it was sad, it was insightful! Terrific performances. I especially liked Marla Sucharetza, who played Diane. Although we initially see the "ditsy" side of Diane, we come to discover there is a lot more to this kind-hearted character. I will be on the lookout for more from this talented group.

I really liked this movie because of Ally Sheedy and the music

[pauloyh · 8/10 · 2 April 2006]

Yes, the movie is very predictable and full of cliché's as stated in some of the commentaries.

So what? How many different versions of Cinderella have you seen so far? All cliché and predictable, isn't? In my opinion what is outstanding in this movie is Ally Sheedy's performance, and that is what makes this movie worth seeing. Superb is her acting, particularly in the scene with the final confrontation between Deb and her father.

The music that plays in the background during that final confrontation scene is also really beautiful. Looking up in the end credits, I guess it is called "February", but I could not find it anywhere so far.

Great movie!!

[simba-21 · 10/10 · 3 September 1999]

My wife & I saw this film at the Nantucket Film Festival this past June. Both of us was blown away with the wonderful story that made us both laugh & cry !!!! Great movie, wonderful acting, cannot understand why this movie hasn't been picked up domestically??????????? This is a real great movie!!!!